By Saint Tim
February 19 2011

So back to the LV Cup.  This is somewhat cynically called the Little Value Cup by many supporters – but it isn’t.  It offers a way into the Heineken cup for English teams and also financially it is one of the better competitions to progress in, paradoxically it is better than the aforementioned cup in that matter.  It is however hampered by a structure that makes it a lottery!  You do not play the teams you are competing against.  Thus after a win and a draw Saints were bottom of their pool, whilst the team they drew against was top of theirs.  So with the six nations on Jim took the opportunity to test the squad depth and give some youngsters a learning experience.

Who was your MoTM as the Saints went down at Irish in the LV?

It was a tough day at the office for the young Saints team – particularly in the second half.  It was also a tough day for Shane Geraghty making a return to London Irish who still haven’t got over his leaving.  I do not like the level of bitterness and bile shown on the message boards on this subject and to hear that Shane was singled out by the man on the tannoy shows that this feeling runs deep throughout the club.  I was also reading that Shane was targeted for some very robust play and I am sure this was a planned ploy.  It is sad to see a club I admire sink to these levels.

The game itself resulted in a four try to two set back and one of the Saints tries was scored right at the end so a bit of a consolation try.  So no points and it was no virtually, but not mathematically, impossible for Saints to qualify.  I am sure the management wanted to use at least one of the knock out weekends to catch up on the missed matches.

So, who caught the eye?

Only two people caught the eye.  In second place with over 24% of the vote was Brett Sharman.  Brett has matured this season and is now a reliable replacement on most occasions for Dylan.

In first place and his first win of the season was Calum Clark, with over 27% of the votes.  Calum is growing and growing this season.  I am sure we have not seen the last of Calum in the MoTM poll leadership.

My thanks to the 33 who voted as I know that not many made the trip to a largely empty Mad Stad to witness the performance.

Full Result

Previous Winners

Vote History

Who wins?

Leaderboard

Players Used

So far this season we have still used 35 different players with 4 new starters this week.  I do notice however that after 20 games we have 3 players who have only missed a single start.  This isn’t really rotation and could come back to haunt us as the season progresses.

MoTM: Saints blown away at the MadStad in the LV Cup

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 19/02/2011 10:21

ComeOnYouSaints.com
19/02/2011 10:21

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Saint Tim
19/02/2011 10:22

Sorry I am a bit behind - but catching up over the next few days.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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Saint Tim
19/02/2011 10:49

Couple of errors in the graphs - which I am correcting for the Leeds report.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
20/02/2011 17:28

Well, as you know if you read my report, I was there and Tim's assessment is pretty accurate.

Calum Clark - the Clark without an 'e' - showed great leadership and has massive potential. He seemed to gobble up the ground as well as attackers and defenders alike. The only doubt is about his best position: second row or back row?

There is a big debate, which has been going on for about 3000 years, concerning which position best suits a gladiator, and whether it is profitable to play them out of position.

Well, I don't know the answer. I played all along the back row AND the second row, but that was in another time, in another team and in another place!

Yes. Shane was cynically targetted and flattened (usually by two or even three tacklers), so his contribution was understandably muted. The same happened when LI played at FG. But on that occasion (it was a league match) we flattened them.

We shall play them again on 23 April, the penultimate game of the season, when I hope we shall see a different result...

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St Marlowe
20/02/2011 23:47

Given that they should be our playmakers, and stamping authority on the games I think this graph tells us the problem with our season since Christmas.





David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

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